The Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (PABM) will not be taking part in any international level competition for one year, including the upcoming 2018 Asian Games.

The self-imposed ban means 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medalists Azroy Hazal Wafie Ahmad Izhar dan Aznil Bidin will not be representing the country in Indonesia this August.

PABM president Ayub Rahmat announced the shocking decision in an attempt to restore the image of the federation, which has been recently plagued with doping incidents.

Three junior weightlifters, namely Hakimie Haikal Nordin, Zaidi Mohd Nordin and Ronny Jesos, tested positive for using stenozolol in March.

Later, 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Fazrul Azrie Mohdad was also found positive for the same banned substance.

"We have decided not to participate in any international competition for one year. It is an appropriate action at the right time.

"Despite our international absence, we will continue to strengthen the development of local weightlifters," he told reporters after the federation’s exco meeting at Wisma OCM on Wednesday.

He added there would be no obstruction for local athletes to compete at local tournaments, including 2018 Malaysia Games, but they would need to produce a doping-free certificate from the Anti-Doping Agency of Malaysia (ADAMAS).

Apart from that, an internal committee was formed to send a clear signal to the National Sports Council (NSC) and the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) that the PABM takes anti-doping seriously.